Hit the books, then hit NFL Combine

It’s a given that the NFL wants students of the game. But it could be the league also wants students of the school.

Article continues below ...

In an apparent response to the arrest of former Patriot Aaron Hernandez for murder, the NFL reportedly is seeking to burnish its image this way: The league is considering requiring prospective draftees to be academically eligible in order to attend the Scouting Combine, according to CBSSports.com’s Bruce Feldman.

No one’s draft eligibility would be affected, but unless they’ve been hitting the books, college players heading to the NFL would miss out on the Underwear Olympics. The league already has a rule that keeps an incoming rookie from attending organized team activities until his class graduates from college. This would further extend the NCAA student-athlete and NFL connection.